The governance of retail energy services in the UK: a framework for the future

This Working Paper is the first output of research on retail market governance in the theme on “Decision making”. Retail markets are the main commercial interface for most people with the energy system. Current retail energy market governance in the UK is characterized by a quite complex mix of arrangements that have evolved over time. The scale of governance is increasingly complex, for both technical and political reasons, with a trend towards multi-level governance. The role of EU institutions has increased and this seemed set to continue until the EU Referendum; some energy governance is now devolved (although to different extents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelandii); and some local government is beginning to play a more active role. However, the principal level is still the nation state, and that is therefore our predominant focus

The Use of Laser Scanning and 3D Modelling in Accident Investigations

In order to prevent accidents we need to understand them, this is achieved through effective accident investigation. Accident investigation is a complex process of gathering and evaluating information to determine factors that may have implications on the final event. One of the fundamental aspects in the investigation process is to capture geospatial data of the incident, to document the scene in its current condition, providing the investigation team with a record for future reference. The production of plans have conventionally remained the same, with a surveyor tasked to illustrate a 3D scene with 2D representations. Recent developments in instrumentation have provided the geospatial industry with the means to capture vast amounts of 3D data directly using laser scanning. In addition, there have been considerable advancements in software applications which can be used to process the surveyed datasets. This research evaluates the use of the latest technology in respect of accident investigation applying the methodology to fire related incidents, industrial accidents and mining incidents. This is achieved by using a number of case studies that have been undertaken throughout the timeline of the project and whilst working with industry professionals in the field.European Social Fun

Quantifying the art of retail site selection : a retail case study

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2001.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-89).Although there have been great strides in attempting to identify the locations that will yield the highest sales, the opinion among retailers remains that once the demographic, market, and sub-market analysis is complete, the choice of where to open a store within a sub-market is a matter of "feeling". Science can help a retailer pinpoint an optimal intersection that will enable it to place its goods and/or services in front of the largest number of potential customers, but it is the "art" of site selection that will enable a retailer to choose the best of the available locations surrounding the targeted intersection. There are invariably a number of appropriate alternative sites within a qualified trade area. Choosing the best location among these alternative sites is subjective. This "feeling" or "art" of selecting the relatively better location is something that is usually refined through years of developing the intuition for what will work the best. The purpose of this paper is to look at and then quantify the real estate variables that affect the relative attractiveness of available locations that exist within a delineated trade area. This is in an attempt to replace the subjectivity or "art" of selecting the best location with that of quantifiable results that prove that one site will result in higher sales than that of another. The results of the analysis show that the independent variables fail to predict sales per square foot with a requisite statistical significance. While the data failed to prove the hypothesis that the "art" of selecting retail locations can be replaced with quantitative analysis, the authors believe that with a larger sample size real estate factors can provide valuable insight into sales per square foot forecasts.by Matthew Lane Hawkins and Christian Eyre Foulger.S.M

The use of laser scanning as a method for measuring stairways following an accident

Copyright: 2015 Survey Review Ltd.MORE OpenChoice: Open Access ArticleStairs present significant potential for harm to their users. A fall on stairs, particularly in descent, often leads to serious injury or even death. The authors have been involved in the investigation of many workplace stair accidents. Proper forensic investigation into the cause of a stair accident has often found the incident to be wholly or partly caused by poor stair design. In order to establish the relationship between the stair design and a given fall, an onsite survey has to be conducted, determining the rises and goings along with other key dimensions. The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), Buxton, UK, regularly undertake this type of survey using a digital inclinometer, a steel rule and a tape measure. Laser scanning is an emerging technique that is now accessible to the surveyor to complement or replace traditional approaches. The laser scanner and associated software produces a dense point survey in 3D, allowing dimensional analysis of the features. The authors used both traditional and laser scanning techniques to study the scenes of two fatal stair falls. The analysis presented allows the suitability of laser scanning for stair-fall investigation to be considered. Identification and classification of errors are needed in order to consider if the error is acceptable or can be mitigated. Laser scanners are impressive instruments providing data from which can be used to create a virtual 3D environment that can be used to reconstruct and explain an event and contributing factors. The use of both survey methods currently provides the investigator with complimentary data that allows accurate measurements to be presented in the context of the three-dimensional environment.European Social Fund (ESF

The Benefits of Laser Scanning & 3D Modelling in Accident Investigation: In a Mining Context

PublishedArticleThis is the author’s final accepted version of the article: M. L. Eyre, P. J. Foster, J. Jobling-Purser and J. Coggan. "The benefits of laser scanning and 3D modelling in accident investigation: in a mining context." Mining Technology 2015; 124(2), 73-77. DOI: 10.1179/1743286315Y.0000000004Accurate reconstruction of the facts and causes surrounding accidents is critical if the mining industry is to learn from incidents and prevent future events. Effective accident investigation and training are essential in order to accomplish this, while providing a record of the incident in order to help in explaining the situation to people unconnected to the event itself. Over a number of years there have been considerable innovations in survey instrumentation and software used to record data. However, the final deliverable data has remained the same, with surveyors tasked to represent a 3D environment using 2D deliverables. This paper explores the benefits that can be obtained using 3D data capture and representation with regard to accident investigation with discussion on accuracy, time, witness verification and reduction in human error

The Use of Remote Sensing Techniques for Monitoring and Characterization of Slope Instability

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Understanding changes in slope geometry and knowledge of underlying engineering properties of the rock mass are essential for the safe design of man-made slopes and to reduce the significant risks associated with slope failure. Recent advances in the geomatics industry have provided the capability to obtain accurate, fully geo-referenced three-dimensional datasets that can be subsequently interrogated to provide engineering-based solutions for monitoring of deformation processes, rock mass characterization and additional insight into any underlying failure mechanisms. Importantly, data can also be used to spatially locate and map geological features and provide displacement or deformation rate information relating to movement of critical sections or regions of a slope. This paper explores the benefits that can be obtained by incorporating different remote sensing techniques and conventional measurement devices to provide a comprehensive database required for development of an effective slope monitoring and risk management program. The integration of different techniques, such as high accuracy discrete point measurement at critical locations, which can be used to complement larger scale less dense three-dimensional survey will be explored. Case studies using a combination of aerial and terrestrial laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicle and hand-held scanning devices will demonstrate their ability to provide spatial data for informing decision making processes and ensuring compliance with Regulations

Modelling the Influence of Geological Structures in Paleo Rock Avalanche Failures Using Field and Remote Sensing Data

This paper focuses on the back analysis of an ancient, catastrophic rock avalanche located in the small city of Lettopalena (Chieti, Italy). The integrated use of various investigation methods was employed for landslide analysis, including the use of traditional manual surveys and remote sensing (RS) mapping for the identification of geological structures. The outputs of the manual and RS surveys were then utilised to numerically model the landslide using a 2D distinct element method. A series of numerical simulations were undertaken to perform a sensitivity analysis to investigate the uncertainty of discontinuity properties on the slope stability analysis and provide further insight into the landslide failure mechanism. Both numerical modelling and field investigations indicate that the landslide was controlled by translational sliding along a folded bedding plane, with toe removal because of river erosion. This generated daylighting of the bedding plane, creating kinematic freedom for the landslide. The formation of lateral and rear release surfaces was influenced by the orientation of the discrete fracture network. Due to the presence of an anticline, the landslide region was constrained in the middle-lower section of the slope, where the higher inclination of the bedding plane was detected. The landslide is characterized by a step-path slip surface at the toe of the slope, which was observed both in the modelling and the field. This paper highlights the combined use of a geological model and numerical modelling to provide an improved understanding of the origin and development of rock avalanches under the influence of river erosion, anticline structures, and related faults and fractures

The Surprising Power of Neighborly Advice

Two experiments revealed that (i) people can more accurately predict their affective reactions to a future event when they know how a neighbor in their social network reacted to the event than when they know about the event itself and (ii) people do not believe this. Undergraduates made more accurate predictions about their affective reactions to a 5-minute speed date (n = 25) and to a peer evaluation (n = 88) when they knew only how another undergraduate had reacted to these events than when they had information about the events themselves. Both participants and independent judges mistakenly believed that predictions based on information about the event would be more accurate than predictions based on information about how another person had reacted to it.Psycholog

The prevalence and practices of caffeine use as an ergogenic aid in English professional soccer:Caffeine Use In Professional Soccer

The ergogenic properties of caffeine are well established, with evidence supporting beneficial effects for physical and technical elements of performance required for successful soccer match play. Despite this, recommended caffeine practices for professional soccer have not been established. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the use and behaviours surrounding caffeine use in elite English soccer clubs. Representatives of 36 clubs from the top four tiers of English professional football (40%) completed an online survey that sought to determine if, when, how and why caffeine was prescribed to players as a means of improving sports performance. Of the clubs sampled, 97% indicated that caffeine is provided to players as a means of improving performance. Caffeine is most commonly administered prior to (> 94%) and during a game (> 48%), with frequency uninfluenced by time of matches. There was a broad range and lack of consistency in the timing, dose and mode of caffeine administration, but doses were typically low. Evidence from the present study indicate a translational gap between science and practice, highlighting a need for future work to better understand how caffeine consumption can be optimised with respect to the specific demands and constraints in professional soccer